Top five Weird, Funny and Sizzling news of this week
Workers forced to say 'I love you' or be fired
A federal agency sued a New York customer service provider on Wednesday after allegations the company forced employees to pray, thank God for their jobs and say "I love you" to managers and colleagues at work, and fired those who protested. The Long
Island-based United Health Programs of America and its parent company, Cost Containment Group, required workers to practice a spiritual belief system called Onionhead while on the job, in violation of their civil and religious rights, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission said in the complaint.
Island-based United Health Programs of America and its parent company, Cost Containment Group, required workers to practice a spiritual belief system called Onionhead while on the job, in violation of their civil and religious rights, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission said in the complaint.
The company fired several employees who refused to adhere to the Onionhead doctrine, which was created by the aunt of the company's owner, the complaint said. In one case, an IT project and account manager was disciplined after she complained to management in 2010 that she was Catholic and did not want to participate in the spiritual activities, according to the complaint.
A month after she complained, the employee was removed from her office and relocated to an open customer service area, while a large statue of a Buddha was placed in her former office. She protested to the owner that the move amounted to a demotion and was fired, the complaint said. "While religious or spiritual practices may indeed provide comfort and community to many people, it is critical to be aware that federal law prohibits employers from coercing employees to take part in them," Sunu Chandy, senior trial attorney at the commission, said in a statement. The commission is seeking back pay with interest and unspecified damages for the fired employees, and an injunction against the company from further religious requirements. Representatives for United Health Programs of America and Cost Containment Group could not be immediately reached for comment.
High school student won't get diploma after stripping at graduation
FAYETTEVILLE, N.C., June 13 (UPI) --A North Carolina high school senior will not be receiving a diploma after he stripped during his graduation ceremony in Fayetteville. Quinton Murphy got all the way down to his underwear during graduation proceedings at Jack Britt High School on Wednesday. Murphy dropped his gown and tossed his cap to reveal tight, leopard-print underwear underneath, according to WJBF. After Murphy walked offstage, police officers escorted him away from the ceremony. On Thursday, Cumberland County School Superintendent Dr. Frank Till announced Murphy would not get his "symbolic piece of paper." Till hoped to send the message to other potential pranksters that there will be "long-term consequences" for similar stunts. "Our schools have worked so hard," Till told the Fayetteville Observer. "It used to be that the audience would be disruptive at graduation. We've worked hard to get the audiences to respect our students. This young man chose not to show respect for his colleagues." Murphy will still be able to prove he graduated with his transcript.
Florida cops arrest wrong woman... twice
TAMPA, Fla. - A Louisiana woman spent five weeks in a northern Florida jail after being wrongly arrested - twice. Ashley Nicole Chiasson, a 28-year-old single mother, was mistaken for a woman with the same first and last name who was wanted by local authorities in Clay County, near Jacksonville, Florida, for financial crimes. She is three years younger and at least five inches shorter than the woman that authorities sought, attorney Andrew Bonderud said in a letter to the Clay County Sheriff's Office this week announcing intent to sue. His client also has a different middle name. "This is not mere negligence," Bonderud told Reuters on Wednesday, adding that authorities had the information needed to distinguish the two women. "This is recklessness."
Clay County Sheriff Rick Beseler said in a statement that detectives took "shortcuts" in the identification process."The result was the wrong person was accused of crimes she didn't commit," he said, pledging to adopt new policies to ensure there is not another incident. Chiasson was first arrested last year near New Orleans. She was extradited in January to Clay County where she spent four weeks in jail before authorities apparently realized they had the wrong person, her attorney said. She was arrested a second time last month when, during a court hearing related to her first arrest, she was arrested for a different crime, again involving the other woman, Bonderud said. She spent another week in jail. All charges against her were dropped late last week, sheriff's officials said.
Texas man sues after surgeons remove wrong kidney
DALLAS - A Texas man has filed a lawsuit seeking more than $1 million in damages from two doctors he said were responsible for removing his healthy kidney and leaving a cancerous one in his body. According to a lawsuit filed this week in Tarrant County, Glenn Hermes underwent surgery last year at a Fort Worth hospital and was informed after the procedure that doctors had removed the wrong kidney. Hermes was "greatly shocked, stunned and depressed," court documents said. He will likely need to be on dialysis or receive a kidney transplant, his lawyer said. About a month after the initial surgery, Hermes underwent surgery at a Dallas hospital to remove the cancerous growth.
Porn star giving up sex in support of country's World Cup team
JANEIRO, June 11 (UPI) --Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country -- or not do. An Italian porn star has relegated himself to celibacy in order to show support for his country's World Cup Team. Rocco Siffredi made a vow of chastity this week in advance of the start of 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil on Thursday. Siffredi made the announcement in a video that was posted on his Facebook fan page.
"Guys, I've had thousands of orgasms but there is one I will never forget. The one I had together with all of you. Do you remember when we won the World Cup in 2006?" Siffredi says to the camera. "So for that collective orgasm (to happen again) I am prepared to go without my orgasms," he continues. "For the entire time our national squad is in Brazil I won't have sex. It will be my chastity vote for the victory of Italy." Italy is in Group D and will play matches against England, Costa Rica and Uruguay in the opening round. "I foresee hard times, very hard, but you need to support me, you need to write to me, don't abandon me," Siffredi said. "And to the 22 players who are in Brazil, I ask only one thing, let me at least enjoy you."
